The state, led by Governor Kathy Hochul, continues to pursue requirements that health-care workers be vaccinated against COVID-19 while the State Senate Republicans, still opposed to the mandate, have proposed bills to incentivize health-care workers.

ALBANY COUNTY — Two members of the county’s planning board were slated for replacement without their knowledge.

The state comptroller’s website is now featuring a COVID-19 Relief Program Tracker to monitor federal relief funds received during the pandemic and eight programs that offer targeted assistance to New Yorkers most severely impacted by the pandemic.

This week brought welcome news on travel bans being eased, and a court injunction allowing religious exemptions for health-care workers who were mandated to get vaccinated.

These local students have recently distinguished themselves:

— Riley Rohauer of Altamont, has earned the Key Award from Elmira College

as an outstanding student in their junior year of high school or preparatory school; 

— Victoria Cusato of Schenectady, has earned the Key Award from Elmira College

These local students were named to the dean’s list or received a similar honor from their college or university for the summer 2021 semester:

— Emilie Moss of Delmar, on president’s list at Southern New Hampshire University with a grade point average of 3.7 or higher;

The State University of New York College at Oneonta has announced graduates for the summer 2021 semester.

— Amanda Brewer of Altamont, earned a bachelor of science in criminal justice;

— Morgan Costanzo of Schenectady, earned a bachelor of science in media studies cum laude, media studies honors;

McCoy’s proposed budget is under the state-set levy limit for the ninth year in a row. “It’s the fourth year in a row, the average property owner will see a slight decrease,” McCoy said on Tuesday. The country tax rate will drop from about $3.48 per $1,000 of equalized value this year to about $3.46 per $1,000 in 2022.

“We have lost five more members of our community this week alone to COVID-19,” said County Executive Daniel McCoy on Sunday in his daily COVID release.

“The new and prolonged remote work arrangements have raised questions about the future of office space,” states the comptroller’s report.